August 6, 2002
On July 2729, the church in Tirana celebrated its 10th anniversary. Actually, the church was established in Albania by the apostle Paul in the first century (Romans 15:19). Illyricum (Albania) was a stronghold of Christianity for hundreds of years. At the amphitheatre in Durrës, Diocletian fed Christians to the lions. Later, the Turks occupied Albania for five centuries, and most Albanians converted to Islam.
On August 2, 1992, however, three Albanians were baptized in the lake behind the university. On that day, Artur Kuçi, Eno Damo, and Klodiana Papakristo were born again of water and the Spirit. In August and September of 1992, fifty eight people were baptized INTO CHRIST.
During the past ten years, God has blessed the church in Albania with healthy growth. More than 1,000 people have come into the kingdom, and churches have been established in twelve Albanian cities: Berat, Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Korçë, Llogora, Lushnja, Kuçova, Reps, Rrëshen, Tirana, and Vlorë. A church has also been planted in Prizren, Kosova
On July 2729, the church in Tirana celebrated its 10th anniversary. Actually, the church was established in Albania by the apostle Paul in the first century (Romans 15:19). Illyricum (Albania) was a stronghold of Christianity for hundreds of years. At the amphitheatre in Durrës, Diocletian fed Christians to the lions. Later, the Turks occupied Albania for five centuries, and most Albanians converted to Islam.
On August 2, 1992, however, three Albanians were baptized in the lake behind the university. On that day, Artur Kuçi, Eno Damo, and Klodiana Papakristo were born again of water and the Spirit. In August and September of 1992, fifty eight people were baptized INTO CHRIST.
During the past ten years, God has blessed the church in Albania with healthy growth. More than 1,000 people have come into the kingdom, and churches have been established in twelve Albanian cities: Berat, Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Korçë, Llogora, Lushnja, Kuçova, Reps, Rrëshen, Tirana, and Vlorë. A church has also been planted in Prizren, Kosova
The celebration in Tirana lasted three days. It started on Saturday, July 27, when the church went to the Adriatic Sea for an all day picnic.
On Sunday morning, July 28, more than 250 people assembled for worship at the Tirana Palace of Arts. That evening, church leaders took us down memory lane by showing pictures that had been taken through the years.
The celebration reached a climax on Monday evening, July 29, when young people of the Tirana church presented a powerful drama titled “Drifting Away.” The play, written by Brian Simmons, was translated into Albanian by Flori Polo and directed by Ellen Walker. When the “last curtain fell,” the audience of 300 people expressed their feelings with a standing ovation—with whistles, hoots, tears, and cheers.
